I have about 300 miles on this chain configuration and it is working perfectly. No to very little tube chatter, very efficient, and very smooth shifting. I highly recommend this for Catrike or any other make of trike.
Floating Chaintube Holder
Floating Chaintube Holder
SKU:CHM136.1
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$34.00 AUD
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$34.00 AUD
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The Floating Chaintube Holder solves a lot of problems that come alongside the joys of chaintube ownership. Have chaintube noise problems? Have chaintube drag problems? Have chaintube mounting problems? Well, the diabolically simple and sturdy Floating Chaintube Holder laughs in the face of problems like these. Add in one of our special low noise, extra slippery, virtually indestructible plastic T-Cycle chaintubes and you'll never worry about your chain again!
FAQ
1. What exactly is this thing?
It's a way to hold a chaintube in place on a chain, in a way that lets the chaintube float up, down, and sideways with the chain while staying in position front to back. The idea is that the chaintube only rides lightly on the chain, covering the chain where it needs to be covered, and keeping the chain from going crazy without dragging on it in normal operations.
2. OK, I get it, but how does it work?
As it turns out, the heart of the mount is diabolically simple—it's a section of bicycle chain, turned sideways. Really. After looking high and low for all sorts of industrial materials to accomplish this action, we came back to bike chain. It worked the best of all, but it needed something to make it prettier and keep it from touching things it shouldn't. So we hid it away and protected it from rubbing on anything with a nylon packcloth sleeve. What makes it all work is the laser cut stainless L brackets attached to each end. One attaches to your bike, and the other attaches to the chaintube. Both ends attach with a pair of zipties for easy, secure, and versatile installation.
3. Tell me more about mounting. For instance, where do I put it?
The first consideration is where the chaintube needs to be. Generally, that's where the chain goes close to your fork, or the crossarm of your trike, or some other part of your frame. Where the mount goes depends on what is within the reach of the flexible chain assembly. It has a reach of 4.5 inches (11.4cm), so there are probably lots of places it will work. The chaintube can be attached anywhere along it's length (front, back, middle, etc.). If the place on the frame where you are attaching the mount is at a very different angle than the chain, the L brackets are designed to be adjusted by bending to get the matching angle. There are notches in the stainless L brackets to catch the zipties so everything stays secure. We put foam cushioning tape on the frame side L bracket to protect your paint.
4. Can I use any chain tube, like the tube I already have?
Yes. We recommend using a low noise, soft, slippery plastic. The material we use is quiet, slippery, and very abrasion resistant. Flaring the ends helps with noise quite a bit.
5. It seems crazy that such a simple thing could be the solution to my noisy chaintubes!
I know, right?! There are some other things you don't want to overlook, like the type of material the chaintube is made out of, and keeping the tube as short as you reasonably can, but yes, this is often the key missing piece to finally making your chaintubes quiet.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
- As you approach figuring out how best to mount this, the first thing to think about is where the chaintube really needs to be. Where does the chain rub, or want to rub? Usually, that's where the chain goes close to your fork, or the crossarm of your trike, or some other part of your frame. We recommend keeping chaintubes short, between 4 and 12 inches (10 to 30cm).
- Where the mount goes depends on what is within the reach of the mount. It has a reach of 4.5 inches (11.4cm), so there are probably lots of places it will work. Pick one that leaves a bit of range even at the maximum extent of where the chain normally needs to go. The chaintube itself can be attached anywhere along it's length (front, back, middle, etc.).
- If the place on the frame where you are attaching the mount is at a very different angle than the chain, the L brackets are designed to be adjusted by bending to get the matching angle. The floating action works best if the chain inside the nylon sleeve on the mount is relaxed and perpendicular to the drivetrain chain.
- There are notches in the stainless L brackets to catch the zipties. Usually, it's easiest to wrap the zipties around the tube and tighten them only enough so there is a good amount of slack. You can then slide them over the L brackets, get everything approximately positioned, and tighten them loosely. once everything is basically in place, you can fine tune things before tightening things fully and trimming off the excess. We put foam cushioning tape on the frame side L bracket to protect your paint and give extra grip.
ADDITIONAL INFO
- Chaintubes have a reputation for being noisy, draggy, and prone to filling with chain crud. While this can be true, it doesn't have to be. We think that it's possible to have a chaintube that is very quiet, almost friction free, and unlikely to get gunked up. Here's how to do it:
- 1. Let the chaintube float with the chain. You want the chaintube to cover the chain, not tell it where to go.
- 2. Use the right chaintube material. We use a special low noise, extra slippery plastic.
- 3. Keep the chaintube as short as possible. The longer the tube, the more it will gunk up and the more the chain can vibrate inside. Shorter is better, down to about 75mm (3in).
- 4. Flare the ends. The entry end is most important, of course, but the exit end makes a big difference too. We flare both ends with a special process that thickens the ends and shapes them for smooth chain flow.
- If you do not have chaintube already we can supply lengths up to 4 feet (120cm) long in 4 inch (10cm) increments. We can optionally flare both ends with our special heat process.
- Since the inside of the mount is a section of bicycle chain, it is possible to shorten or extend it if you need to. We buy recycled chain from Resource Revival, so the particular brand and type of chain inside may vary.
- Trikes like the Catrike may require one or two floating chaintube holders, depending on the position of your boom and the sizes of your chainrings. Basically, it depends on the proximity of the chain to the crossarm and how much the chain is likely to bounce up and down.
- The stainless steel L brackets are attached to the section of chain with stainless steel pop rivets. They are very securely attached, but it is theoretically possible to remove them if you wanted to put in another piece of chain.
- This mount was designed to be very versatile and it's possible to attach it to nearly any bike or trike, recumbent or upright.
- If you have an Xtracycle, for instance, it is a great way to control the bottom chain and keep it from flopping on the ground or rubbing your kickstand.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 27 reviews.
2023 Catrike Dumont. As you now are aware, the "completer return idler will not work with the Dumont because the return chain will contact the kickstand. It is necessary to use the OEM design of the return tube attached by "P" clamp to the power idler assembly to avoid that kickstand contact. The solid "P" clamped return tube positions the chain above the kickstand. I installed Terracycle 20" tubes for the power and return chain. I then floated the power tube from the return tube. I was able to then eliminate the OEM double "P" clamp that previously connected the drive and return tubes. By floating the drive tube it has significantly reduced tube noise. I have attached a photo of the OEM solid "P" clamp attachment of the return tube at the idler. Also attached is a photo of the drive tube that is now floating from the return tube with the T-cycle floating device. I would recommend this method to reduce tube noise.
Great purchase in every way.
Get on the T-Cycle site and get the floating chain tube holder. I've had mine for four years. Wore out two chain tubes and mine still looks new. I clean it when I clean my chain.
Turned my noisy drive train into near silence and the friction reduction reduced my battery consumption by about 10% worth every penny
Simple, but are perfect for floating idlers.
Works great!
Better than original.
Item was as described and arrived on time.
I used this on my Catrike Dumont to hang the power side chain tube. It worked so well I got this for my wife's Villager. This is a brilliant solution and has helped quiet her chain line, along with the clamp on return idler.
brilliant piece of kit
Excellent. Installing the product helped to solve the issue I was having on my trike with the lower chain tube rubbing against the steering tie rods..
The floating chain tube holders and new tubes have worked out well. Aaron had great advice on making the transition. The driveline is much quieter and smoother.
I replaced some old model hose clamps with these floating chain tube holders. They work great and it looks much nicer too. Worth the investment.
The floating chain tube holder does exactly what it says and it works perfectly! Great invention. I use 3 on my Catrike Expedition.
These were easy to install and allow me to shorten the amount of tubes that were previously on my trike. All t-cycle items I have bought have been top notch.
I find these better than the original P clips. The tubes don't slide a lot when folding.
Best thing since sliced bread. So simple but it does the job. You don't even know that it's there. Better than wire as it just allows your chain tube to float. It also helps reduce chain/tube noise.
My KMX trike chain passed very close to the parking brake caliper. Chain clatter was obvious in every gear - even the ones where it looked like there was enough clearance. Now the chain is dead silent.
This is an ingenious solution to chain tube issues. It can be placed anywhere along the run of the tube where there is frame attachment space, rather than using the metal wire things that have very limited attachment options. Highly recommended!
I wanted to run a 24 tooth front chain ring on my Tour Easy, but the chain would hit the bike's rear brake in some gearing combinations. The floating chain tube holder works perfectly to protect the brake by holding the tube in position to protect the brake while floating the tube for minimum interference/drag when in other gears.
Excellent holder. Doing a great job holding the chain tubes in place on my Catrike 700. I would buy again.
Easy to install. It worked perfectly, no problem at all.
Great- I have a kind of love hate relationship with the chain tube- I see it as necessary on this particular bike, but argh.......I feel a bit better now, with the use of this simple little toolie brackety ingenious little thing......should have bought the smaller version, but this works great with a wee bit of adjusting-such a great idea!
Very good, The Floating chain tube holder performed exactly as advertised. My powerside chain tube floats forward and back a few Inches allowing for a virtually silent powerside chain line. I moved a 7 year old Elite model T-cycle return side chain Idler wheel from my Tour Easy to my Terratrike RAT and was able to eliminate that chain tube. These chain management upgrades made a real difference. I am a satisfied customer.
This hanger zip ties to my frame and the chain tube and prevents the tube fro flopping around, yet allows up and down movements. Now I don't have to worry about the tube slipping Into the chainring and getting chewed up. I highly recommend this to other people.
very good product